[Closed] Best rim protection inserts.

Bump for vis

Vittoria Airliner here, very happy protection wise as it's coped with lots of rough Scottish riding and poor line choice. The Nukeproof ARD I tried was pretty poor in comparison.

I would also be keen to compare a heavier duty tyre with no insert vs Exo and insert weight wise, as it does change the feel having the foam in there.

put more air in your tyres

You could try the Rimpact Pro's..... Personally I've not had a problem with the standard Rimpacts over the last 18 months, I've just had to replace the rear as I got a flat and rode about a mile on it in the Peaks so there wasn't much left.

Pro core seems to be the best imo
Having tried
Procore
Rockstop

Rimpact with a forekaster on the back of my HT. I've smacked some rocks pretty hard without any problems. Maybe yorkshire rocks aren't as hard as Welsh rocks

More air I reckon as mentioned above

It's not just about the inserts, the wheels make a big difference. Some are made of cheese, others are not.

Rimpacts are good but can only do so much.

Some friends recommend Tannus and Vitoria. Never tried them
Myself

I will have the seemingly unpopular opinion that going up a tier in tyre casing is better than flimsy tyres with inserts.

Was on Maxxis DD with Rimpacts and then Michelin Wild Enduro also with Rimpacts and the inserts only help in a limited amount of situations.
On Michelin DH34 since January without inserts and much prefer those.

Thing is, by the time you have an insert that protects the rim, avoids burps, etc (and you still have no meaningful protection against cuts) you're likely on 250g inserts.

STW Overview
(back from last year)

I'm of the opinion, at least having one is better than not. My rear Rovals finally died after much abuse, one (any) of these would have probably saved it. I went for Nukeproof ARD system, for my rear wheel (gave the other to a m8 for his), so far so good.

Is there any truth to the rimpact sticht that you have to put an insert in both tyres or you ruin handling? I have two in my big bike, but might just take the front one out and put it in the back of my cross country bike. I've never touched a rim on my front; that's what steering is for!

Put a Ratbite insert in the rear-only of 2 bikes here, hardtail and full-sus, no change in handling that i could detect.

After seeing this video from Scottish shredder Lewis Buchanan: Linky I'm tempted to give cushcores ago for the rim protection and reduced rolling resistance.

Is there any truth to the rimpact sticht that you have to put an insert in both tyres or you ruin handling?

I've been running one in just the rear for around 18 months. Bike hasn't tried to kill me yet.

There probably is, but I doubt most of us would ever notice..

I stuck a pin in the board and ordered a set of nukeproofs, if they work I'll do two bikes with the nukes in the rear and the existing rimpaxt in the fronts,

I'm still running a Huck Norris. Has never failed to stop pinch flats and always has dozens of nicks when I replace it each year. Old school design in comparison to the solid profile ones of late, so everyone probably thinks they're rubbish but they seem to work for me.

I have just installed some inserts (rimpacts) and want to know what tyre pressure adjustments do people make who run them make, if any post install?

I’m light at 10.5st and ride mostly in sunny south of England soil but have taken the hardtail with a rimpack in the rear wheel to wales. I would normally run 20psi but have been able to drop down to 15psi even with Welsh trail center trips

Matt ,
Thanks that's helpful as I run around 20psi normally to so I shall experiment minus a few psi.

Is there any truth to the rimpact sticht that you have to put an insert in both tyres or you ruin handling?

Depends on the tyres IME.

Exo, yes a bit. Stiffer carcasses, not really.

+1 for Rimpact pro is noticeably tougher - and it's actually hard to tell when you have a flat.

I used to run a rimpact in the rear with a Hutchinson Griffus, but it didn't stop a pinch flat on my second ride. I ended up getting a Big Betty in Super Trail casing (no insert) which is heavier overall but has been more reliable for me in the Peaks. So I am in the tougher casing no insert camp at the moment. Plus, if you have to put in a tube, what do you do with the insert covered with sealant?

Forgot to say I run a double down maxis aggressor tyre. Don’t think I would go for an evo caseing but would go evo plus (they don’t make the aggressor in the size I want in evo plus)

@1timmy1

We'll ideally you boot the tyre and inflate it tubeless.

If this not a goer, you need to take then insert out, fold it and stick it in yer pack.

Huck Norris, I spend summer riding in the alps & Pyrenees most years, they stop some, but not all rim pinches, cant say I notice they are there, still better to have them than not IMO. Other brands my be better... just dont think about them most off the time, so i've never bothered changing them.

Anyone tried the Tannus ones?

Reviews seem to love em

https://nsmb.com/articles/tannus-armour-tubeless-inserts-tested/

No but that review does big them up somewhat...

If this not a goer, you need to take then insert out, fold it and stick it in yer pack.

been there... another reason for carrying disposable latex gloves with you! carrying a giant soggy foam pretzel made a right mess of my camelbak - wash off the sealant as soon as you can!

I am of the opinion that having one in the rear is beneficial, does it matter what?
I have been using a DIY insert for the last three years, it protects the rim while allowing me to run the tyres at lower pressures. Typically I run the rear at around 22-25psi depending on where I'm riding. The front wheel I haven't bothered with but still run it at around 23-27psi.

I am a clumsy rider and tend to crash through stuff and would have no doubt had many pinch flats and dented rims. I have had neither to date. I'm around 84kgs kitted up.

I've gone from running Maxxis DD with a Huck Norris in the rear to EXO casing with Cushcore front and rear. I've only had two outings on them so far but they feel better to me. More supple and seemingly dampened on small stuff. I'm not the hardest or fastest rider but I'm a fan so far and the weight difference between the DD tyres and EXO + Cushcore is negligible.

i use ratbites. they are awesome but i dont know if they are still going as a company

I run Rimpact Pro in standard Maxxis EXO casing DHF/DHRII combo. Despite abuse in Finale, the Lakes District and Wales, I've not had a single puncture since fitting them 7 months ago. I definitely think the Pro's are worth the extra over the std Rimpacts that I used previously, but still had 3 pinch flats using. The layer of higher density foam on the Pro's seems to make the difference.

Pinkbike are testing inserts, worth a look to see what they say.

I have a rimpact on the rear. Landed badly. Blew the wheel up, pretzelled the rim and broke four spokes coming down Parkamoor. Remarkably The tyre stayed up and the rim edge was undamaged, which I suppose is testament to the insert.

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/review-6-best-tire-inserts-2021-ridden-rated.html

Just installed some Cush Core XCs on my wife’s bike - super easy to install which was a bit of a surprise. She hasn’t ridden it since, so can’t comment on anything else!

I've found rimpact pretty good so far. Absolutely smashed them on sat and the wheels are both fine. This was running 16/18psi f/r.

Nukeproof ARD in the rear with a WTB Tough casing. It's definitely taken some hits but worked great as no pinches or rim damage. I still run the same pressure 24f/28r) as my aim was for more protection rather than lower pressure for the same protection.

16/18 is pretty low, I'd get huge amounts of squirming even on my XC bike at 75kg. If you're not I'd wonder if you have an accurate gauge. Pretty sure last time I saw an article on the xc world cups the 50kg women were running above that!

Especially on your XC bike. Thinner tyres are much more squirmy at lower pressures.

Tough carcass tyres can handle low pressures well IME.

I'm not riding XC Big volume, 29er tyres with tough casings and inserts. I would usually be more like 18/21, but conditions were extremely greasy.

I love Rimpacts, but not sure I’ll buy them again, after a couple of years the foam itself was is great condition but it had separated at the join on both wheels, it’s a shame because it could have lasted 2-3 more years.

Started with Huck Norris
Then tried construction foam
Now I use double down or super gravity and a pressure gauge. I used to believe I really knew that I had enough air, just from feel, but this approach still killed tyres in Exo+ with an insert.

Now I know that a 29x2.4 tyre really needs 25psi, and 2.6 maybe 22ps. If I feel a rim strike without provocation, I up the pressure.

It has to be said that even through my tyre killing exploits with an insert and exo+ my DT Swiss XMC Carbon rims have been flawless.

it had separated at the join

Just poke a couple of holes in it and ziptie it back together.

That’s what I did, it was suggested by them, but they also mentioned “once the join has separated the insert no longer has its radial tension”, so it won’t support the bead

Cable tie and tape them back. It’s not like they have some kind of fancy tape to start with!

Ok I have some feedback, I bought the Nukeproofs ARD.
Protectionwise thay have been excellent so far, welsh rocks, a weekend in Spain on some serious rocks and a week in the Alps. It has all been good.
However, there is one flaw. Thy seem to make my back wheel damped, when climbing its like wading through treacle, I tried them last night on the same climb with and without and over 6:10 mins of constant climb with. I descended, removed and did the same climb in 4:45.
Anyone else found this? I can really feel it.

Strange - I'm not sure how substantial the ARDs are, but I've had a Huck Norris in my rear wheel for a while now and haven't noticed any difference at all except for the sound it makes as it slides around if I lock up my rear wheel.

With that being said though the Huck Norris' are pretty minimal as far as inserts go.

Quite substantial. https://nukeproof.com/products/horizon-advanced-rim-defence-ard-pair

My experience of using Cush Core for 18 months (on the rear wheel only):

Hope 26" Enduro Rims & Maxxis High-Roller with Cush Core:
- Tyre was a nightmare to fit and couldn't get it seated properly as it always had a slight 'bulge/wobble'.

- So I swapped it for a Schwalbe Hans Dampf ... which could be fitted with the Cush Core by hand and seated nicely.

Ridden for a 18 months with no rim dings etc ... really like the way it feels!

However after 18 months almost all of the Schwalbe Hans Dampf side knobs had torn off, so decided to replace tyre. This time it was the complete opposite - the Schwalbe Hans Damp was incredibly difficult to get on the rim - I even had to resort to using my Pedros Downhill Tyre Lever. However there was a wobble/bulge again and I'd actually damaged the rim tape trying to get the tight fitting tyre on over the Cush Core.

So I removed the Hans Dampf, re-taped the rim and tried a new High-Roller. This was much easier to fit, but it turns out that the Cush Core actually gets slacker in use and so when following the recommended install process and spraying with soapy water it had a tendancy to pop off when fitting the 2nd side so I swapped it for an unused Cush Core insert and everything seated nicely.

In conclusion:

Not all tyres are equal and just because one tyre brand/model worked is no guarantee of faff-free install when you replace a worn/trashed tyre

The Cush Core are expensive, fiddly to fit (make sure you allow a couple of hours and some choice swear-words) and seemingly lose some of their molecular integrity over time ... but when riding I really do like the confidence and consistency etc they inspire!